Improvement in darning-lasts



M. B. CROWNINSHIELD.

EARNING-LAST.

No. 190,745. Patented May15, 1877.

NPEIERS, FHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY B. OROWNINSHIELD,-OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DARNlNG-LASTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,745, dated May 15, 1877; application filed March 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARY B. OROWNIN- SHIELD, of Washington city, District of Golumbia, have invented a new and useful Device for Darning Stockings and Analogous Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents the device as applied in actual use. Fig. 2 represents the device when not in use.

My invention relates to a device to be used in darning stockings and other articles; and it consists, essentially, of a ball, over which the article to be darned is drawn, and a clasp to hold the article steadily in position on the ball, so that they may,not become separated.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe the exact manner in which I have carried it out.

The difficulty of holding the article to be darned steadily on a ball during the process of darning is well understood among all families; and heretofore, when the work had to be laid aside, the article would necessarily become detached from the ball, to the great hinderance and annoyance of the operator. To overcome these difiiculties is the object of my present invention.

In the drawings, A represents a stocking drawn over the ball B, and securely held in position by the clasp O. The object of the ball is to spread and expose the opening to be darned, and this is accomplished by placing the ball within the article and gently drawing the article over it, when it is to be gathered together, as shown in Fig. 1, and secured by the clasp (J.

In this position the stocking may be laid down and taken up at pleasure, as it may be convenient to proceed with the work, the position of the stocking upon the ball remaining unchanged. The clasp C relieves the thumb and fingers from the old tiresome and cram ping process of holding the stocking in position, and the operator is free to turn the stocking in any position convenient for the use of the needle.

The clasp may be conveniently attached to the ball by means of a light chain or cord.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a darning device consisting of the ball B and clasp 0, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

MARY BRADFORD CROWNINSHIELD.

Witnesses:

Lomsn BRADFORD, SARAH H. Bnam onn. 

